Plans to add more shop floor space to The Oracle have been unveiled by developers – in a bid to keep it at the top of the region’s shopping tree.

Developers have submitted the proposals to Reading Borough Council to extend the existing retail units on the lower and upper mall levels backing on to Yield Hall Place.

This includes a 440 square metre extension on the lower level and around 630 square metre on the upper level, providing prime space for up to four retailers.

The shops would be accessed through a new two tier glazed entrance at the junction between Yield Hall Place and Yield Hall Lane, with a stairway leading up to the Minster Street mall above.

Developer Hammerson Plc believes the new glass entrance would provide greater visibility from inside The Oracle, and create an eye-catching pedestrian walkway leading through to The Riverside.

Pardip Kaur from architect Haskoll, which has overseen the design of the shopping complex, told the Evening Post the proposals would increase the customer experience at the 98-shop complex.

“This will be a really positive addition to The Oracle,” she said.

“It will transform the Yield Hall Lane area with a bright new entranceway and will add much needed retail space too.

“The application is in the process of being looked at by the council, but we have no idea when a decision will be made.”

If given the go-ahead, developers intend to change the area adjacent to Debenhams and Kings Walk, the pedestrian route through Yield Hall Lane, currently used as a service yard by Mothercare.

The existing overhead area above Yield Hall Lane would become a ‘shop front’ with display windows for the new tenants on the lower mall level of the busy retail hub. Reflective metal cladding and recessed light fittings would be installed to the underside of the building to highlight the pedestrian route below.

The application comes during a tough spell for retail, with many high streets struggling for sales as consumers tighten their purse strings.

Reading was recently ranked 16th in a league table of best performing retail centres in the UK, but is forecast to fall three places by 2017 as other shopping destinations in the South East, such as Oxford, Basingstoke and Crawley, start to close the gap.

The UK Retail Ranking Report, compiled by economic analyst Experian, assessed each retail centre on factors such as pedestrian footfall, size of the centre by floorspace, and the number of major stores and independent retailers.

The application is due to be discussed at a meeting of the council’s planning applications committee next Wednesday.